Containment order issued for Lake of the Prairies after invasive mussels detected

Saskatchewan’s environment ministry has issued a containment order for Lake of the Prairies after invasive mussels were found in the lake, which straddles the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border.

The ministry said multiple veligers of invasive mussels were found in the lake near the Highway 5 bridge in Manitoba as part of a routine monitoring program, and the finding was corroborated by officials in both provinces.

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The containment order requires any watercraft or equipment that comes into contact with Lake of the Prairies – also referred to as the Shellmouth Reservoir – to be properly decontaminated by officials with the environment ministry before it can be used in any other body of water. The order includes the entire lake, from the Highway 357 crossing of the Assiniboine River. A similar order is in effect for the Manitoba side, the ministry noted.

“The recent detection in Lake of the Prairies highlights the importance of ensuring all watercraft and water related equipment are cleaned, drained and dried after every use, no matter which waterbody you were last using,” Darlene Rowden, Saskatchewan’s environment minister, said in a statement.

“With the Lake of the Prairies containment orders in place, it is critical everyone who has had watercraft or equipment in contact with this area follow the decontamination procedures by our (aquatic invasive species) response team before moving watercraft or equipment to another waterbody.”

The ministry said invasive mussels “pose a significant socioeconomic threat to Saskatchewan and beyond,” adding that effective containment is essential to prevent the mussels from spreading further.

“Decontamination will be completed by trained officers within the ministry’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program, who are already on location to support compliance with the order,” the ministry said.

Anyone who plans to move watercraft or equipment that has been used in the lake and requires decontamination was advised to contact advised to contact the environment ministry directly.

In a statement issued in June, the provincial government said aquatic invasive species – zebra mussels in particular – are a growing threat in provincial waterways. Though they have not yet established a population in Saskatchewan, the invasive mussels are slowing spreading westward across North America, making preventative action “critical.”

The government said solutions to the emerging issue are in high demand both inside and outside the province, leading Saskatchewan to launch a search for innovative, technology-based solutions to tackle the threat of invasive aquatic species in the province’s waters.

The innovation challenge is open to researchers, tech companies, students and entrepreneurs based in the province, and early stage ideas are welcomed, meaning the innovation doesn’t need to be fully developed in order to apply.

The winning group will receive a $30,000 grant and a 16-week residency, along with full commercial rights and an opportunity to test the technology in a real-world setting.

“One of the biggest barriers for innovators is getting that first opportunity to prove their solution,” Warren Kaeding, the provincial minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan, said in a statement.

“Through the Innovation Challenge, innovators can work with government as a partner and early customer, allowing them to test their ideas in real-world settings, demonstrate its value and accelerate a path to market.”